Bahia: Fire, Earth, and Ocean
In partnership: LaChiave with Sara Melotti
11 nights · 12 days · From 3 to December 14, 2026
Is this journey for me?
Highlights
Salvador da Bahia
The first capital of Brazil and today one of the country's most fascinating cities: a place where colonial architecture, markets, baroque churches, music, and street life coexist in a vibrant and unique atmosphere.
Vale do Pati — Chapada Diamantina
In the heart of the Chapada Diamantina National Park, Vale do Pati is a remote valley accessible only on foot, considered one of the most beautiful treks in South America. A landscape of canyons, plateaus, waterfalls, and mountains, where a few families still live scattered amidst nature.
Itacaré — Atlantic Ocean
A small village overlooking the Atlantic, surrounded by the Mata Atlântica, one of the most biodiverse forests in the world. Full of wild beaches, jungle trails, and hidden bays, at sunset the center becomes a meeting point for travelers, musicians, surfers, and locals, creating an atmosphere that's hard to find anywhere else.
Journey description
Bahia is the Brazilian state that, more than any other, represents the meeting of three worlds: European, African, and Indigenous. A place where history, culture, and nature are deeply intertwined—a region that tells some of the most painful chapters of Brazil's history, but also showcases its extraordinary ability to transform the encounter between different peoples into a unique cultural identity. Candomblé, capoeira, the Orixás—in Bahia, for centuries, cultures have preserved themselves in bodies, songs, food, ways of being together, celebrating, and praying, and in the rhythm of the drums that still echo through the streets of Pelourinho in Salvador, the beating heart of Afro-Brazilian culture. Our journey starts here. We will lose ourselves in the colorful streets of Pelourinho, following the sound of drums in the squares, amidst capoeira, samba, the flavors of Bahian cuisine, and the energy of a city where music, dance, and spirituality are an integral part of daily life. We will cross the Vale do Pati, in the heart of the Chapada Diamantina, considered one of the most beautiful treks in South America, through canyons, mountains, waterfalls, and small rural villages. We will end the journey on the beaches of Itacaré, among trails in the Atlantic Forest, wild beaches, and the relaxed rhythm of Bahian life, giving us time to assimilate everything we have experienced. As in all our programs, we will alternate exploration with moments of movement, breathwork, meditation, and sharing circles, because we believe every journey can be an opportunity to observe the world with new eyes. And by trying to understand a new world, we inevitably begin to understand something about ourselves.
What this journey is
A journey in three acts: first the context, then the body, then rest and integration. In Salvador, we absorb the culture; in Vale do Pati, we walk in nature; in Itacaré, we rest, giving ourselves the necessary time for what we have experienced to settle. Vale do Pati is a real trek: backpack, climbs, a bit of effort, and nights in simple pousadas in the valley. Alessandro and Sara, both deeply connected to this incredible land, accompany the group throughout the entire experience as travel companions and support.
What it is not
It is not a retreat and it is not a tour with rigid stops and schedules, but a hybrid journey between adventure, nature, and culture, where the discovery of places is woven with moments of listening, reflection, and sharing.
Who it is for
For those who love to travel with openness and curiosity and are willing to set out on a path, adapt, and live the journey with a spirit of discovery. For those who love nature, are not afraid of physical effort, and wish to share this experience with a small group of people, getting involved while respecting everyone's space and time. For those who need to disconnect, breathe, slow down, and observe the world from another perspective. For those who feel it is time to broaden their horizons, both inside and out.
Who will accompany you
Alessandro Crea
After 11 years in consulting, I realized a lifelong dream: nine months backpacking without a fixed plan. A journey around the globe, and inside myself. It started in India, with 26 days in an Ashram studying yoga, meditation, pranayama, and Hinduism, where discipline was total and the body became the territory to work on every day. Then to South America, living through experiences that aren't easily explained and that I hadn't even tried to explain to myself. From the Andes to Peru, through the Amazon to the Bahian and Carioca coasts. From that trip, the conviction was born that certain knots we carry with us only loosen when we are far from the context that created them. That physical movement and geographical disorientation do something that a hundred seated conversations cannot. From that journey, the LaChiave experience in Bahia was born.
Sara Melotti
Sara is a photographer, filmmaker, and writer. She left a successful career in fashion photography when she realized her work was contributing to unreal and unattainable beauty standards that cause many women to suffer. She then founded Quest for Beauty, a photographic project that led her to travel solo across four continents in search of the true meaning of Beauty. Through her travels, she shifted her focus to social and humanitarian issues: documenting gender-based violence in India, refugee and displaced persons camps in Iraq, and the war in Ukraine, working on many other projects alongside non-governmental organizations. Thanks to her work, shared on social media, she has attracted international press attention from outlets such as the New York Times, Daily Mail, Vanity Fair, and many others. Author of ‘Happiness is a Choice’ (Piemme, 2021) and ‘Close Your Eyes and Find Me’ (Vallardi 2026), she now collaborates with international brands, companies, and NGOs, telling stories of places, cultures, and traditions, but, above all, stories of people.
Bahia cannot be photographed from the surface. Twelve days to learn how to truly see it, just as you learn to see people.
The journey day by day
Landing and transfer to our accommodation in the historic center.
- Airport to hotel transfer
- Overnight stay in a double room
Welcome to Bahia! Salvador will immediately pull you into its festive atmosphere: music, colors, flavors. In the morning, we'll walk through the historic center with a local guide who will share the city's history and its deep Afro-Brazilian roots. We'll then continue to Feira de São Joaquim, Salvador's most authentic market—a vibrant, chaotic place where daily life intertwines with Bahian traditions, featuring spices, tropical fruits, medicinal herbs, and ritual objects used in Candomblé and Umbanda. In the evening, we'll return to the center and follow wherever the music takes us.
- Breakfast
- Guide
- City transport
- Overnight stay in a double room
Transferring inland. The landscape changes completely: from the coast to the cerrado, from humidity to open skies, from the city to silence. About seven hours by van towards Lençóis. Arrival, settling in, and a briefing on the trek. Dinner together. Get your backpacks ready. Tomorrow we walk.
- Breakfast
- Transfer
- Overnight stay in a shared dormitory
Dawn departure from Lençóis towards the village of Guiné by 4x4 to the start of our trek. The route crosses the rocky walls of Mirante do Aleixo, descends through the Gerais do Rio Preto plateau, and reaches the Rio Funis bed, flanked by three waterfalls where we'll swim. Along the way, we'll cross amber-red streams, a characteristic of Chapada Diamantina due to iron oxides and natural tannins in the soil. In the late afternoon, we'll reach our pousada, a simple family-run mountain house where we'll spend the night. Dinner and evening around the fire.
- Local guide
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Overnight stay in a local house, dormitory bed
Today we climb Morro do Castelo, a rock formation that looks like a castle. After about an hour and a half of ascent, a series of viewpoints open up over the Calixto Valley, and we'll enjoy the breathtaking view from the top. Picnic at the summit, then descend into the silence of the valley towards the pousada. After leaving our bags, we'll go for a swim in a waterfall. Dinner at the pousada with the family hosting us, followed by an evening of music, fire, and sharing.
- Local guide
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Overnight stay in a local house, dormitory bed
This day is dedicated to immersing ourselves in the pristine Calixto Valley, the wild and less-explored neighbor of Vale do Pati. We'll walk along less-beaten paths, entering thick, lush vegetation that hides authentic natural treasures: the Calixto and Palmito waterfalls. These crystal-clear waters, set in a preserved forest, offer moments of peace and contemplation in a landscape almost untouched by humans. It feels like being in a hidden paradise where every step reveals new wonders.
- Local guide
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Overnight stay in a shared dormitory
Today is the final and longest day of trekking: the Fenda da Prefeitura opens onto a landscape of rock and space, leading to Pedra do Jacaré, a viewpoint suspended over the void. Reaching Cachoeirão do Pati—with its 270-meter drop—we can finally rest and swim in the natural pool. In the afternoon, we'll slowly leave this incredible national park behind, hop into the 4x4s, and return to Lençóis late in the evening.
- Local guide
- Breakfast and lunch
- Overnight stay in a shared dormitory
A slow morning in Lençóis: breakfast, packing, a bit of breathing space and rest. Transfer to the Atlantic coast (about nine hours) crossing the Bahian hinterland, between paved roads and long stretches of dirt tracks lined by rural villages. Arrival in Itacaré in the late afternoon, time for some relaxation surrounded by greenery and beaches reachable only on foot. First dinner by the sea, a great chance to be together and soak in the relaxed atmosphere.
- Breakfast
- Transfer
- Overnight stay in a villa
Morning in the Mata Atlântica towards an exotic beach populated by 'altinha' players. The body is still tired from the trek, so the afternoon will be free: surfing, hammock, reading, silence—everyone at their own pace. Dinner together.
- Breakfast
- Circle in nature
- Overnight stay in a villa
In the morning, we'll take a walk to a remote beach. In the afternoon, we'll have an integration circle facilitated by Alessandro and Sara. A conversation about what happened, inside and outside of us, during these eleven days. The rest of the day is free to enjoy the last moments of Itacaré. In the evening, we'll have a closing dinner to celebrate this wonderful adventure lived together.
- Breakfast
- Circle in nature
- Group dinner
- Overnight stay in a villa
After breakfast, we'll hit the road for a long day of travel back to Salvador. Arrival in the evening.
- Breakfast
- Transfer to Salvador airport
- Possible hotel stay for those with flights the next day
The journey comes to an end. It's time to return enriched by the depth, variety, and intensity of Bahia. More aware and connected with your body, with a brighter flame, probably with a bit of 'saudade', but plenty of positive energy to warm your daily life with meaning once you're back home.
- Breakfast (if flight isn't too early)
- Transfer to Salvador airport
What is included
- Accommodation
- Internal transfer Salvador → Chapada Diamantina
- Internal transfer Chapada Diamantina → Itacaré
- Internal transfer Itacaré → Salvador airport
- Cultural mediation in Salvador
- Local guides in Vale do Pati (all trekking days)
- Breakfast, every day
- Meals during trekking days (breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the pousada)
- Daily integration circle facilitated by Alessandro and Sara
- Daily yoga, meditation, and pranayama practices facilitated by Alessandro and Sara
- Medical and health insurance
What is not included
- International flights to and from Salvador
- Lunches and dinners outside of trekking days
- Optional activities in Itacaré (surfing, extra excursions)
- Personal expenses and shopping
- Travel cancellation insurance (recommended)
- Visa (not required for most Western citizens — please check passport validity)
How to get there and what to bring
Flight: International flight is not included. Recommended route: Milan Malpensa or Rome Fiumicino → Salvador de Bahia (SSA). Look for outbound flights on the evening of December 2nd or morning of December 3rd, and return flights in the late evening/night of December 13th or morning of the 14th. Trekking backpack: For Vale do Pati, you need a 30-40 liter backpack, broken-in hiking shoes, light technical clothing, and a water bottle. A detailed list is sent after booking. Physical fitness: Vale do Pati is a medium-difficulty trek; we will walk between 5 and 7 hours a day with elevation gain. It is not mountaineering, but it is not a simple stroll. A predisposition for long walks is required. Vaccines: No mandatory vaccines for Bahia, as we visit the central-eastern part. For more details, consult your local travel health authority. Language: The experience is conducted in Italian. Local guides and facilities speak English. Alessandro speaks Portuguese and can translate and assist if needed. Group: Minimum 6, maximum 12 participants.
What people who have already joined a LaChiave trip say
"Il viaggio a Bali con Alessandro è stata un'esperienza davvero speciale, molto più di una semplice vacanza. In una settimana ci ha accompagnati alla scoperta di paesaggi meravigliosi, luoghi autentici e angoli dell'isola lontani dai percorsi più turistici. La sua presenza ha fatto la differenza: è stato sempre disponibile, attento e capace di organizzare ogni giornata con grande cura, lasciandoci allo stesso tempo lo spazio per vivere ogni momento con calma e consapevolezza. Grazie alle attività di yoga, respirazione e riflessione, il viaggio è diventato anche un'occasione per fermarsi, ascoltarsi e ritrovare un contatto più profondo con se stessi, senza mai perdere leggerezza e divertimento."
Michelangelo
Bali 2026, la pace tra i templi
"Decidere di intraprendere un viaggio la chiave è stata principalmente curiosità di qualcosa di diverso e più profondo dei soliti viaggi. Viverlo è stata pura magia. Con Alessandro abbiamo esplorato i luoghi più belli e meno conosciuti di Bali lavorando su noi stessi con spazi di riflessione, yoga e respirazione guidata. È stato un vero e proprio viaggio fuori e dentro di noi alla scoperta di un'isola unica nel suo genere. Alessandro è stato una guida attenta ai minimi dettagli per tutto il viaggio, dalle mete che ci ha portato a vedere ai momenti serali dedicati all'anima e alla riflessione più profonda su se stessi con spensieratezza e tanta allegria. Un'esperienza che sento di consigliare vivamente."
Carlotta
Bali 2026, la pace tra i templi
What people who have already experienced a LaChiave space say
I walked in with a blank page and walked out with a notebook full of ideas, reflections and shared moments
I am leaving here feeling much richer and much less alone, so thank you all so much for this evening!
It was a beautiful surprise, a useful space and such a natural, nourishing flow, thank you to everyone who spoke up 🌱❤️ I really hope you will hold more of these!
Honestly I had no expectations, I chose to take part in a spirit of listening and openness. Thank you from the heart for all the reflections and the sharing that came up. I am very grateful for such a nourishing moment
Thank you all. A really beautiful space. I am off to get my meditation cushion ready
Frequently asked questions
Early Bird: pay a 100€ deposit by 20/09. Once 5 people join, the trip is confirmed and we will ask you for the down payment.
per person · flight excluded
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